Small mammal inventory in some selected areas of Sierra Madre mountain range, Luzon Island, Philippines

Small non-volant (rodents) and volant mammals (bats) were surveyed in three different study areas of Sierra Madre. A total of 21 species of non-volant and volant species were found to occur in selected sites of Sierra Madre mountain range. Four species are murine rats (Apomys datae, Bullimus luzonicus, Rattus averetti and R. tanezumi). Seven are fruit bats (Ptenochirus jagori, Cynopterus brachyotis, Otopteropus cartilagonodus, Rousettus amplexicaudatus, Macroglossus minimus, Haplonycteris fischeri and Eonycteris spelea) and nine are insectivorous bats (Hipposideros pygmaeus, H. ater, H. diadema, Rhinolophus rufus, R. virgo, R. philippinensis, R. arcuatus l, R. arcuatus s, Megaderma spasma and Miniopterus schreibersii). Non-volant and volant species composition differs in the three different study areas. Three endemic murids (A. datae, B. luzonicus and R. everetti), three endemic fruit bats (P. jagori, O. cartilagonodus and H. fischeri) and six endemic insectivorous bats (H. pygmaeus, R. rufus, R. philippinensis, R. arcuatus l and R. arcuatus s) were recorded. Results of the study generally agree with the assumption that most non-volant endemic species are restricted to undisturbed to lightly disturbed primary forest habitats exemplified by Dicong, Signan and Tambo study sites and that non endemic species are at a competitive disadvantage in areas that support rich endemic communities. The results for volant mammals support the prediction that fruit bats reached its greatest local densities in agricultural areas (Dilasag) and less abundant in montane and mossy forest (Diteki). Insectivorous bats were found to be common in limestone forest where caves, rock crevices are present in the area. The number of endemic species recorded from the study sites in Sierra Madre reflects a complex habitat that can support the existence of these species and that the forest of Aurora and Quezon needs to be conserved and protected